Newsletter: March 2005

What is OBEDNITZA?

From Friday March 4 to Sunday March 6, Fr. Lawrence will be away in Saskatoon doing a Retreat for St. Vincent ’s Orthodox Church . On that Sunday, Fr. Justin will also be away, bringing our greetings to Dn. Richard René (formerly of this parish) as he is ordained priest by Bishop Seraphim in Calgary. That means that on Sunday March 6, St. Herman’s Church will serve Obednitza.

“Obednitza” is a Slavic term, which literally means “little Liturgy”. It is the Liturgy with the specifically Eucharistic parts removed, consisting of the three antiphons, the Prokeimenon, Epistle, Gospel, Creed, and other prayers. It is combined with the Third and Sixth Hours, and served by Readers and Subdeacons on occasions when a priest (or deacon) is not available. As mentioned, it is not Eucharistic, so the faithful need not fast Sunday morning. Holy Communion will not be served.

Serving Obednitza, though not ideal, reveals that St. Herman’s is a community, and a family, and remains so even on those rare occasions when there is no priest. As a family, we come together to support one another in prayer and fellowship. Thus Sunday March 6 is not a time to sleep in or simply skip Church. The church family still comes together, and all are called to be a part of that gathering for mutual support.

“Glory to God for all things!”

A new sign is soon to be affixed above the door of the nave leading back into the narthex. At Fr. Lawrence’s request, with the Bishop’s blessing, Stephen Quissy will affix this sign painted by Mat. Sarah Hewlett. It will rest above the door, below the icon of St. John Chrysostom, proclaiming Chrysostom’s last words: “Glory to God for all things!” Though persecuted and hounded to death, the Father whose Liturgy we use said these words to sum up his life just before dying. It is fitting that the last thing we see when we leave the nave after serving his Liturgy is his icon and a sign proclaiming his triumphant faith in God. It is this triumphant cry of joy that can sustain us as we leave the Liturgy and live as the children of God in the midst of the world. Our thanks to Matushka Sarah and to Stephen Quissy for helping us encounter every week the challenge of St. John Chrysostom’s final joyful legacy.

All my love in the Lord,

Fr. Lawrence

Silence in Church

Please remember to turn off cell phones and pagers before entering the nave. Casual talk should be reserved for the narthex outside. If you choose to leave during the post-communion prayers, please do not prop the doors open, so the quiet of the sanctuary may be preserved for those who do remain. –Fr. Lawrence

Community Announcements

1. Sat. Vespers 7 PM

2. Wed. Vespers and Study Mar 2 & 9 at 7 pm

3. Fabric arts & pizza Sat Mar 6 4:30 pm Reader Vespers 7 pm

4. Obednitza instead of liturgy Sun Mar 6

5. Icon/drawing class Sat Mar 12 3 pm

6. Forgiveness Vespers Sun Mar 13 1 pm

7. Lenten Services see calendar

8. Orthodoxy Sunday Vespers Mar 20 7 pm St . Innocent's

Worship Notes

“Let God arise. Let His enemies be scattered… Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.” This Paschal proclamation inaugurates our penitential Lenten season. We sing it at the end of Forgiveness Vespers as we prostrate before the Cross and each other. Why do we begin a time of repentance and ascetic exercises with a Paschal hymn? Because this song of victory announces Pascha as our destination and establishes the continuity and connection between Great Lent and our most important feast, the Resurrection of our Lord. We will not be ready for the long services and intense fasting of Holy Week and the joy of Pascha until we have gone through “the great sea of the fast” (Lord I Call, Forgiveness Sunday Vespers).

All of the Lenten services (and there are many!) : Forgiveness Vespers, the penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, the solemn Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, set the appropriate tone of “bright sadness” and expectation through the use of slower, quieter and more meditative music. For an explanation of the Lenten services and a guide book for the “journey to Pascha”, please see Fr. Alexander Schmemann’s classic book : “Great Lent” (available in the Church library and book store).

An upcoming musical change (unrelated to Lent) will be our return to the Greek melody setting of “Joyful Light” during Vespers. For many of you this will be new (you’ll learn it quickly especially if you attend both Wednesday and Saturday Vespers), and for some of you, this will be familiar and comfortable right away.

Questions or comments about Church music or choir? Talk to me at coffee hour, phone me at 604-591-6326, or email me at davidcolin{at}telus.net (replace "{at}" with "@").

—Andrea Folster, Choir Director

Sunday of Orthodoxy Services

The first Sunday in Lent is dedicated to the Triumph of Orthodoxy, honouring the image of God in the icons of Christ and His saints.

Last year our parish hosted Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers for the first time. This year St. Innocent's, Everson WA, has invited us to join them for the vespers and procession at 7pm Sunday March 20^th.

Bring your family icon, and don't forget your ID for the border. For any members of our far-flung parish unable to join us there, there are also services at All Saints Monastery, Dewdney (4 pm) and St. Michael's, Burnaby (7 pm).

CARPOOL needed for Fibre Arts & Carving Group

(First Saturday of Every Month... 4:30-6:30pm )

Please call Kimberley at 730-9945 if you are able to give a ride .

Bring your latest project and spend a few hours, relaxing & being creative with us. Next one is Saturday, March 5th, 4:30-6:30 pm. Bring a twoonie if you're able, to chip in for pizza.